30 year Career: US Legacies vs Emirates/Qatar/Ethiad

[sinkrate]

This discussion is not unique to this industry. In most industries Europeans will have more years of and more in depth education than Americans. In Denmark you must apprentice for year before you can be a waiter. Americans will have more 'on the job training' and experience. In occupations that require time critical and independent decision making skills the scales tilt towards experience. Flying requires very little of that any more so the scales are tilting towards education - and as little of it as possible. Look at the ICAO multi crew pilot license and two pilot flight decks. The days of being on your own after you call 'gear up' are long gone.

 

[sinkrate]

I know a turboprop only Captain who went to right seat of a 747 classic at a cargo airline here in the US. It all depends. Fortunately, airlines usually don't care about what turbine your turbine time is. Jet or turboprop, unless a job requires specific hours in a specific type (like 500 hrs jet PIC).

A lot of guys did that in the 90's when regionals were mostly turbo props and the major US carriers were hiring. No one wanted go to the ACMI carriers so there were plenty of opportunities for that.

Much more impressive is going from the left seat of a CRJ at a US regional directly to the left seat of a wide body for an international passenger carrier. Now - thats stretching.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

Much more impressive is going from the left seat of a CRJ at a US regional directly to the left seat of a wide body for an international passenger carrier. Now - thats stretching.

Not as difficult as you might think, of course it depends on what kind of experience you had to begin with, but there have been many guys with 10,000+ hours and plenty of command time in several types of commercial jets that have done just that.

 

[DC10]

I know a turboprop only Captain who went to right seat of a 747 classic at a cargo airline here in the US. It all depends. Fortunately, airlines usually don't care about what turbine your turbine time is. Jet or turboprop, unless a job requires specific hours in a specific type (like 500 hrs jet PIC).

My first jet was a DC10. I'd never flown anything bigger or more complex than a Jetstream 41 before that.

 

[Buford]

Try to keep your seniority number back home if you can. Working for Emirates is fun but I sure wouldn't want to spend 25-35 years here. It's a good place to wait out a furlough or save some money the last 10 years of your career. Some can enjoy a career here but others might struggle.

Dubai can get old. You can only go to the mall so many times. Everything and I mean everything here is based on commerce. It costs money to go to the park. Some people love it others go crazy...Just make sure you do your homework before giving up a SWA number.

I've been happy here but I have an escape route lined up if things go south. Oh and be prepared to discover that all pilots from the USA are worthless aviators. We can't follow SOP's, don't follow proper RT, and are generally poor aircraft operators...lol You need a thick skin!

Spot on. Been in Dubai a total of 11 years and don't know about sticking around another 25. Those who've kept their seniority at a legacy are sitting pretty. I can't say I was quite that lucky, however, I can say that when I got hired by EK it couldn't have come at a better time. EK has served me and the family well, but do I want to retire one day knowing I've spent half my life in the Middle East and this is all my kids know? Let's just say I'm considering all future options and am keeping an eye on the US market.

 

[Furloughed80]

You will regret coming back.

 

[Dumb Pilot]

am keeping an eye on the US market.

Me too! I'm definitely keeping an eye out for that 200K+ DEC position to open up!

 

[8sugarsugar]

You will regret coming back.

Says the regional guy that doesn't want to compete with a 777 captain interviewing at Delta

 

[CCDiscoB]

Me too! I'm definitely keeping an eye out for that 200K+ DEC position to open up!

Funny!

Says the regional guy that doesn't want to compete with a 777 captain interviewing at Delta

Even funnier!:laugh:

 

[Furloughed80]

Says the regional guy that doesn't want to compete with a 777 captain interviewing at Delta

I am at a legacy. Honestly, why would you leave the left seat of a 777/A380 at EK to come to the bottom of a list 12,000 strong at a US legacy? You are currently flying widebodies all over the globe for a growing airline that has an endless supply of cash to come to a cash strapped airline that will shrink for the next decade. You are trading DXB-HKG for reserve F/O in KEWR; overnights in SYD for overnights in BUF? What am I missing here?

 

[Furloughed80]

Oh, and don't get me started on pay. Seven years in at a US legacy and I am still not making what a year one F/O would make at EK.

 

[johnsonrod]

I am at a legacy. Honestly, why would you leave the left seat of a 777/A380 at EK to come to the bottom of a list 12,000 strong at a US legacy? You are currently flying widebodies all over the globe for a growing airline that has an endless supply of cash to come to a cash strapped airline that will shrink for the next decade. You are trading DXB-HKG for reserve F/O in KEWR; overnights in SYD for overnights in BUF? What am I missing here?

Plus, if you join airlines like Delta, UAL or AA/USAirways upon your return, you will be surrounded by FAT, old, cat-breeding FAs. No comparison with the lovely ladies at EK... :laugh:

 

[8sugarsugar]

Oh, and don't get me started on pay. Seven years in at a US legacy and I am still not making what a year one F/O would make at EK.

It all depends the level of the wife happiness. I would say more than half of the EK guys that are married will take a job at the bottom of United to keep wife happy.

The rest of the single guys and most married ones, they will be happy banging hot russian 22 year old FA's on layovers and the crew rest bunk.

 

[Furloughed80]

The rest of the single guys and most married ones, they will be happy banging hot russian 22 year old FA's on layovers and the crew rest bunk.

I must say, you EK pilots are a class act.

 

[8sugarsugar]

EK Pilots, Delta pilots, whatever, men are men